Explanation of Names
Xylocopa virginica (Linnaeus 1771)
Identification
Large, black "hairless" abdomen (but males esp. of subspecies texana can have conspicuous patches of short hair), yellow pile on thorax. Males have yellow/white face. Common in eastern North America, and the only member of its genus in much of range.
Habitat
Forests and adjacent areas with flowers
Food
Adults take nectar from many flowers, often biting into base of flower to "rob" it without pollinating (but seen to pollinate
Passiflora incarnata quite effectively--pollen is deposited on thorax). Hosts associations listed
here.
(1)Life Cycle
Nests (galleries) are built in dry, standing wood. Conifers are preferred. Eggs are laid on masses of pollen and nectar, several (6-8) to a gallery. One generation per year in most of range. Adults emerge in late summer, overwinter, mate and nest in spring (where aerial mating behavior is a common sight). Perhaps two generations per year in Florida.
See Also

(East and central US. It keeps spreading)
Bumblebees (
Bombus spp.) are somewhat smaller and typically have hairy abdomen
Print References
Gerling D., Hermann H.R. (1978) Biology and mating behavior of
Xylocopa virginica L. (Hymenoptera, Anthophoridae). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 3: 99–111 (
Full text)
Internet References
Fact sheet (Grissell 2014)[Cite:185010]